Apparatus for the continuous fluidtreatment of fabric webs



March 29, 1966 H. FLEISSNER APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS FLUID-TREATMENTOF FABRIC WEBS Filed May 31, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 l-lE/NZ FL EISSNERINVENTOR.

n s a J March 29, 1966 FLElSSNER 3,242,702

APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS FLUID-TREATMENT OF FABRIC WEBS Filed May1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 8, v V Vi--- *ViAM [-76.2 74 L3 76 I" 1 2 I; J O 6M f 92 75 7 5a 6 77 i 84 3a 9 83 9s 78 f 93 79 o O HE/NZ FLE/SSNERINVENTOR.

BY 1 B bi,

Attorney APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS FLUID-TREATMENT OF FABRIC WEBS 4Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 31, 1962 FIG. 5

MR 0 3 mm w E 4 W 21 1M1, m w M Y B 9 7 m m m 6 mm M 3 W 1 M 5 l. V 9 Ll\. I 4 m Attorney March 29, 1966 H. FLEISSNER APPARATUS FOR THECONTINUOUS FLUID-TREATMENT OF FABRIC WEBS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 31,1962 HEINZ FLEISSNER INVENTOR.

Wt g 329 AGENT United States Patent APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS FLUID-TREATMENT OF FABRIC WEBS Heinz Fleissner, Egclsbach, Germany, assignorto Fleissner G.m.b.H., Egelsbach, Germany, a corporation of GermanyFiled May 31, 1962, Ser. No. 198,972

8 Claims. (Cl. 68-5) My present invention relates to an apparatus forthe continuous treatment of fabric webs with fluids and, moreparticularly, for the continuous treatment of textiles with steam.

In the steaming of continuous webs of fibrous material such as textiles,autoclaves have been provided wherein a charge of the textile fabric isintroduced into the vessel, which is sealed against the ambientatmosphere and filled with steam. Occasionally, the autoclave isevacuated prior to the introduction of the steam. This arrangement isintermittent in nature and requires a relatively large amount of timefor the charging and discharging of the autoclave.

In copending application Ser. No. 142,561, which I filed Oct. 3, 1961jointly with Wolfgang Friedel, there is disclosed apparatus for thecontinuous treatment of fibrous webs, i.e. the drying of such webs,wherein the webs are conveyed by perforated carriers. The devicesdisclosed in these applications are not, however, suitable in themselvesfor the treatment of webs or bands of material with steam or wethigh-temperature atmospheres, since large heat and pressure losses wouldinevitably result. Moreover, it is important to note in connection withthe steam treatment of textile fabrics, and especially the steam fixingof dyed materials, that condensation of liquid upon the material must beavoided. Thus, when working with saturated steam, it is vital that adyed material be heated as quickly as possible to avoid the condensationof moisture thereon and a consequent dilution or redistribution of thedyestuff thereon.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a highlyefiicient apparatus for treating webs of fibrous material with heatedfluids.

In such an apparatus the fibrous material, in the form of a band or Web,is treated with steam circulated through the material at a relativelyhigh rate so that relatively small amounts of heat per unit volume orWeight of the steam are given up to the fibrous material. Upon each passthrough the material the steam is reheated so that the differencebetween the loss of heat by the steam and its increase in heat isrelatively small. Consequently, the temperature drop in the steam whileit is in contact with the material is minimal, thereby guaranteeing thatno substantial precipitation of moisture upon the web will take place.In a system of this type, it is possible to employ a fluid consisting ofahnost 100% steam since a superheating of the steam prior to its contactwith the web is not necessary. When the material to be treated isbrought to the saturation temperature, condensation thereon can nolonger occur so that it is possible to reduce the volume of steam passedthrough the web to a minimum.

By an increase in the temperature of the steam treatment above 100 C.,the duration of the treatment time can be substantially reduced. It hasbeen found, for example, that each 10 C. rise in the steam temperatureapproximately halves the required treatment time. Thus, if a treatmenttime of 30 minutes is required at a temperature of 100 C.,. only minutesis necessary at 110 C. and about 7.5 minutes at 120 C. To preventsuperheating of steam at the latter temperature I maintain the steam ata pressure of about two atmospheres since the saturation temperature ata pressure of two atmospheres is about 119.62 C. The temperature has,

3,242,702 Patented Mar. 29, 1.966

ice

of course, a maximum since each textile material to be treated is tosome degree temperature sensitive. Wool, for example, is particularlysensitive to temperatures in excess of C.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision, in anapparatus for continuously treating webs of fibrous material (e.g.porous textiles or the like) with a fluid at elevated temperatures, apressure chamber containing conveyor means for transporting the webwhile the fluid is passed therethrough. As disclosed in said copendingapplication, the conveyor means may include perforated drums or conveyorbelts through which the fluid is drawn. The pressure chamber is formedwith relatively thick walls and is generally of cylindricalconfiguration so as to be able to withstand the high steam pressuresemployed. Other round configurations, e.g. spherical, may also beemployed. The perforated drums may be rotatable wtihin the chamber aboutgenerally parallel axes arranged therein between the inlet and theoutlet of the chamber. Thus, the axes may lie along a common plane sothat the drums are oriented in a substantially straight row whereby theweb of material can alternately underand overshoot the drums along agenerally sinusoidal transport path. In another particularly suitablearrangement at least three drums are provided so that their parallelaxes lie along a circular arc, thereby affording a highly compactinstallation.

Since, as previously mentioned, it is desirable to circulate, at leastinitially, the treating fluid through the web at a relatively high rateper unit quantity of material treated, I prefer to provide means forpassing a large quantity of treating fluid through each unit quantity ofthe web. Such means may include means for driving the successive drumsin such a Way that a drum proximal to the inlet is displaced with aperipheral speed in excess of that of a drum distal from the inlet.Thus, if the rate at which the treating fluid is drawn through the drumsis substantially equal, the material conveyed by the first or proximaldrum will have less intense contact with the treating fluid than thematerial passing through a subsequent zone along the treatment path. Thevariation in peripheral speeds may be accomplished by rotating the drumswith different angular velocities or by providing them with differentdiameters. Moreover, it is possible to insure a higher rate of fluidflow per unit quantity of material processed in the first zone if thefirst drum is provided with openings whose total cross-section along thedrum periphery hugged by the web is in excess of that of a succeedingdrum.

It is also possible to arrange the fluid-displacement means so that,say, a larger quantity of fluid is drawn through the first drum thanthrough a successive drum. In each case it is preferable, when severaldrums are em ployed, to effect a stepwise reduction in the rate at whichthe fluid contacts the material. It will be apparent, accordingly, thatsuccessive drums may have successively reduced diameters while beingdriven with a constant angular velocity; they also may have steppeddrives for rotating them with successively reduced angular velocity; orthey may be provided with exhaust means for drawing the fluidtherethrough having capacities successively smaller in a stepwiserelationship. It is not necessary that the material alternately overandundershoot the drums since advantageous results can also be obtained ifthe web passes along one side of the drum axis, say, along the upperside of each drum. In the former case alternate drums will rotate inopposite senses whereas in the latter case all the drums rotate in thesame sense.

According to another aspect of the invention, the housing enclosing thechamber is formed with an inlet and an outlet adapted to limit theescape of the treating fluid from the chamber. Thus, I may provide apair of rollers at each of these openings to permit the passage of theweb while substantially preventing the escape of the fluid.

Yet another feature of the invention resides in the provision of meansfor introducing a first fluid into the preheating or first zone of thetransport path in order to raise the temperature of a web to thesaturation temperature of a condensable second fluid introduced at asucceeding zone. Hot air may, advantageously, be employed as the firstfluid, While steam serves as the second fluid. I have found that it isoften desirable to provide partition means between the zones in order toreduce the possibility that fluid in a first zone can enter another zonealong the path. In fact, when the pressure chamber is subdivided into anentry portion, which may constitute the preheating zone, .anintermediate portion constituting the main steaming zone, and an exitportion, the partition means may include movable members adapted toprovide a quick closure of each compartment in order to isolate it fromthe others.

If, as disclosed in the aforementioned copending application, each drumis provided with an exhaust blower or ventilator designated to aspiratethe respective treatting fluid therethrough, the successive reduction inthe quantity of fluid passed through each unit quantity of materialtreated may be effected by providing the first drum with, say, twohighacapacity blowers, the next drum with two blowers of somewhatsmaller capacity, and. the third drum with a single blower. It is alsopossible to control the fluid displacement by regulating the speed ofrotation of the blower rotors.

When successive drums operating at progressively reduced peripheralspeeds are employed, or when a relatively fastnnoving drum is followedby a relatively slow-moving conveyor band, the web gathers into apleat-like configuration upon the surface of the slower drum or band. Ihave found that, after an initial heating of the web, it is desirable tofold the web into accordion pleats for subsequent treatment by a fluid.Thus, a relatively large quantity of material can be slowly displacedwhile a treating fluid is drawn therethrough. The folding may beaccomplished with the aid of means for selectively opening and blockingperforations on one of the drums so that the latter alternately entrainsand releases portions of the web extending along its periphery. Suchmeans may include a shield stationary relatively to the drum and havinga first position in which certain of its perforations are blocked asthese perforations sweep into the region of the shield. The shield isprovided with valve-forming portions periodically open-able to unblockthese perforations. The valve-forming portion of the shield may becomposed of a plurality of sectoral members constituting ajal-ousle-type arrangement of shutters, or a slidable plate displaceablerelatively to a stationary portion of the shield means. The valve can beoperated by cam means coupled with the drum and/ or electrical,mechanical or hydraulic contro arrangements well known per se. In thisconnection it should be noted that it is not necessary for all of theshutters to be operated simultaneously since successive actuation of theshutters as the drum rotates will also achieve the desired result.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of my presentinvention will become more readily apparent from the followingdescription, reference being made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic longitudinal crosssectional viewthrough an apparatus according to the invention;

'FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating a modification of theapparatus;

FIG. 2A is an enlarged detail view of the shutters of FIG. 2 showing theactuation mechanism therefor;

FIG. 2B is a fragment-a1 view of another installation similar to that ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is an axial cross-sectional view showing still anothertextile-treating apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a view taken generally along the line IV-JV of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views similar to FIG. 4 illustrating furthermodifications;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through still anotherapparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII of FIG.9; and

FIG. 9 is a bottom-plan view of the drums of the apparatus of FIG. 7.

In FIG. 1 of the drawing I show a treatment chamber 1 provided with twoperforated drums 2 and 3 of the type generally disclosed in theaforementioned application Ser. No. 142,561, filed Oct. 3, 1961. Thedrums 2 and 3 each have a perforated periphery and are rotated inopposite senses (arrows 54, 55) about their parallel axes by means to bedescribed in greater detail hereinafter. A

web 5 of flexible material, e.g. a textile band or other fibrous ribbon,undershoots the first drum 2 while overshooting the second drum 3 alonga generally sinusoidal transport path. A stationary shield 56 blocks theperforations of drum 2in that region of its rotation wherein itsperiphery is not covered by the web 5 so that a reduced suction force isneeded to draw the treating fluid through the material. The suctionforce derives from a blower 57 of the type shown in the above-mentionedcopending application, which circulates steam through the Web 5 past aheater 58 and also supplies part of the steam to the second drum 3 whoseblower 59 draws same through the web 5 in this region. The first drum 2permits the material to be treated with a relatively large volume ofsteam per unit quantity of material since the blower 57 is a high-speedventilator drawing the steam through inlet 60 and expelling it viaoutlets 61 and 62. That portion of the steam which is recirculated viaoutlet 62 through the web 5 in the region of the preheating zone isreheated via heater 5% so that the small amount of heat lost to the web5 by the steam is restored to it. When the temperature of the web hasbeen raised to the saturation temperature of the steam within chamber 1(e.g. about C.), the web passes on to drum 3 whereupon steam is drawnthrough it at a reduced rate. Partitions 63, 64 are provided between thedrum 3 and an endless conveyor 6, which is representative of conveyingmeans in general and may, in fact, be composed of a plurality of bands,to subdivide chamber 1 into a rapidheating compartment 1' and aslow-heating compartment 1". Since the duration of the steam treatmentwill depend upon the fabric treated, the dyestufl employed and othercharacteristics of the web, chamber 1 permits the web to remain incontact with the treating fluid for a prolonged period withoutinordinately increasing the size of the installation. Thus, I providemeans for laying the Web 5 upon the conveyor band 6, which moves at aperipheral speed substantially less than that of drum 3 in the directionof arrow 7, in accordion pleats, loops or folds 5' which remain incontact with the steam within compartment 1" for a relatively prolongedperiod.

The folding means comprises a plurality of angularly displaceabledampers 4, pivotable about axes relatively stationary with respect tothe drum and extending parallel to generatrices thereof. In a firstoperative position the jalousie-like dampers form an extension of theshield 65 of drum 3 to block perforations therein over a substantial arcof its periphery, thereby releasing a substantial length of material andpermitting it to fold along guide plate 66 onto conveyor belt 6. In asecond operative position of the damper-s 4, the perforations areunblocked and the fluid sucked into drum 3 draws the web thereagainst sothat it is entrained until it again is released as a fold. The dampers 4are provided with arms 67 pivotally connected to a rod 68 of aperiodically operated solenoid 69. From the upwardly inclined portion 6of conveyor belt 6 the folded web 5 is drawn between a pair of rollers8, 9, forming a fluid-retaining gate at the outlet 70 of the chamber.Rollers 8 and 9 are driven by a motor 71 with a peripheral speed inexcess of that of band 6 and, if desired, equal to that of drum 3, sothat the web 5 is again straightened as it leaves the apparatus.

In FIGS. 2 and 2A of the drawing I show an arrangement generally similarto that of FIG. 1 but with the treating apparatus arranged in the formof a so-called J-box wherein a J-shaped chamber 1a is enclosed by apressure-retaining housing 72 where-in a perforated transport drum 2a isjournaled. The web 5a is fed into chamber 1a via afluid-pressure-retaining lock 73 whose inlet opening is provided with apair of rollers 74, 75 between which the web is fed and which serve toprevent the escape of the fluid within lock 73 and chamber 1a.

The web then passes between another pair of rollers 76 at the inlet 77of chamber 1a whence it passes over the drum 2a. The latter rotates inthe direction of arrow 78 and has a blower (not shown) whose intake 79draws steam over heating tubes 80 through the web hugging the drum. Theoutlets 81, 82 of the blower return the treating fluid to the chamberIn. Drum 2a is provided with a stationary shield portion 83 which blocksthe apertures of the ineffective part of the drum. The remaining portionof the shield means is formed by an angularly ofIset array of dampers84, which are of a butterfly type, journaled for rotation about axesextending parallel to generatrices of the drum. The shafts 85 of thesedampers are provided with generally radial arms 86 which aresuccessively engaged by cams 87 (one of which can be seen in FIG. 2A)for successive actuation upon rotation of the drum 2a to open thedampers 84 and release that portion of the web 5a which is entrainedalong the drum in the region of the dampers.

Cams 87 are carried by the shaft 88 of the drum 2:: which is journaledon an axle 89 and driven by a sprocket wheel 90. The cams periodicallyopen the shutters 84, which are closed by springs 91, so that the web 5ais alternately swung between the dot-dash position thereof and itssolid-line position to deposit successive folds of the web upon oneanother. It should be noted that the expression web, as used in thepresent application, is intended to designate sheet material as well asparallel arrays of ribbon or silver and any other elongated flexibleelements which can be drawn against the perforated surface of theconveyor means. The folded web 5a passes between a further drum 3a and aconveyor belt 6a, spaced therefrom, so that the folds are oriented ingenerally radial direction. The drum 3a and conveyor 6a are operatedwith identical angular velocity so that no shear stresses are applied bythem to the folds. The movable conveying means 311, 6a completelyobviate the disadvantages of hitherto known J-box arrangements whereinrigid walls are employed. While the blower of drum 3a, whose intake 92draws the treating fluid through the relatively dense mass of materialand the perforated conveyor band 6a from outlet 82, has substantiallythe same capacity as the blower of drum 2a and likewise supplies theoutlet 82, the more compact folds of the web limit the throughput ofsteam so that a reduced quantity of the latter is employed per unitquantity of material processed in the second stage.

A pair of outlet rollers 93 are arranged at the exit opening 94 and drawthe web 5a from the magazine formed by drum 3a and band 6a at arelatively high rate through another lock 95 and its rollers 96.

In FIG. 2B I show another arrangement wherein a drum 2b has its shield83b formed with a slidable shutter extension 8411, which is shiftable,as indicated in dot-dash lines, by a solenoid 69b via its arm 6%" toperiodically block and unblock the perforations of portions of theperiphery of drum 2b. The web 5b thus folds in loops onto the bars 200of a rotary loop dryer. Other wellknown dryer types may also beemployed. The solenoid 69b is coupled with a timer 201 which blocks theshutter 84b in its dot-dash position for a predetermined period whiledrum 2b rotates so that a loop of any desired length may be formed.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a further embodiment of the invention whereinan autoclave 13, whose cylindrical casing 96 is bolted to outwardlyconvex terminal casing portions 97, 98 along their flanges 99, 100, hasan inlet 101 and an outlet 102 at opposite ends of the housing. Thematerial 105 is fed between a pair of rollers 15, 15a at the inlet ontothe lower surface of a first perforated drum 10 whence it passes in agenerally sinusoidal pattern alternately over and under two succeedingdrums 11 and 12. From drum 12 the web is displaced between another pairof rollers 17, 17a of the outlet opening 102. The drums 10, 11 and 12are journaled upon a rear plate 103 forming a compartment 104. Thelatter houses the blowers 106, 107, 108 of these drums, the first two ofwhich are shown in detail in FIG. 4. Blower 107, for example, draws thesteam through its intake 109 after it has passed through the web 105 anddistributes it via a discharge opening 110 to the drums 10 and 12flanking it. Blowers 106, 108 of these drums expel steam through outlets111, 111 whence it can feed the central drum 11. As previouslymentioned, the quantity of air drawn through drum 10 is greater thanthat drawn through drum 11. Similarly drum 12 draws still less treatingfluid, per unit quantity of material, through the web hugging itsperiphery.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the drives for therotors of the blowers 106, 107, 108 (e.g. the motor 20, belt or geartransmission 19 and rotor shaft 18 shown in FIG, 4) are operated atprogressively reduced speeds. The periphery of drum 10 may be providedwith perforations having a larger total cross-sectional area than thoseof drums 11 and 12, or drum 10 may be rotated with a somewhat higherangular velocity than the other drums. Since rollers 15 and 15a, whichdisplace the web 105 in the direction of arrow 14 into the chamber 13,are driven at a peripheral speed somewhat in excess of that of drum 10,the material is deposited in a pleated conformation on the drums. Thisconformation is essentially maintained throughout the transport path ofthe web inasmuch as the other drums 11 and 12 operate at somewhat slowerspeeds. It should be noted that the inlet and outlet slots 101, 102shown are relatively narrow so that hardly any escape of steam, whichmay be introduced via a conduit 112, takes place. Locks such as thoseshown in FIG. 2 may, of course, also be provided at the inlet and outletends of the wind tunnel-shaped chamber 13.

In FIG. 5 I show another arrangement wherein the drums 23, 24, 25, 26within pressure chamber 113 have driving sprockets 114, 115, 116, 117 ofsuccessively larger diameter around which passes a driving chain 118.The latter, displaced by a conventional motor, not shown, rotates thedrums alternately in opposite senses and with progressively reducedangular velocity so that a result similar to that previously describedis attained. The fabric web 21 is fed in the direction of the arrow overan idler roller 22 between a pair of driven feed rollers 119 at therestricted inlet opening 120 of the installation. Rollers 119 operatewith a peripheral speed in excess of that of drum 23 so that thematerial is gathered into slight folds as it is laid onto the drums. Theterminal drum 26 carries the web 21 to outlet rollers 121 whence itpasses between another idler roller 122 and the conveyor belt 27 whichcarries the web away for further processing. It will be immediately.apparent that one or more of the drums 23-26 can be replaced by conveyorbelts or other means having a closed perforated transport sur face. Asin FIGS. 3 and 4, the unused portions of drums 2326 are covered byshields 123426 while only the intakes 127430 of the associated blowersare shown. The

7 blowers may be positioned behind the plate 131 or at the base ofchamber 113.

The apparatus of FIG. 6 has its treatment chamber subdivided into apreheating or first heating compartment 28, whose walls are ofcylindrical configuration like those of the chamber 13 in FIGS. 3 and 4so as to withstand the steam pressure (e.g. two atmospheres)therewithin, and a main treatment compartment 36 in which the material31a remains for a prolonged period in contact with the treating fluid atreduced pressure (e.g. one atmosphere). The web 31a passes over an idler132 and between two feed rollers 133, of the character previouslydescribed, onto the primary drum 29 which conveys it at a relativelyhigh peripheral speed onto a succeeding drum 30 operating at somewhatlower speed. Thus the steam introduced into the pressure compartment 23via a -con duit 134 is drawn through the web into drum 29 at arelatively high rate per unit quantity of material processed while drum30 draws the steam through the web at a relatively lower rate per unitquantity of material processed.

The steam is circulated and heated by fluid-displacement means of thetype previously described and shown in the aforementioned copendingapplication. From compartment 28 the web 31a passes between a pair ofrollers 135 which deposit it in slight pleats upon the first of aplurality of stacked conveyor belts 31-34 which are somewhat staggeredto permit a continuous flow of the material downwardly and out of thelower compartment 36 in the direction of arrow 35. Again the outlet 136of this compartment is provided with rollers 137 which prevent theinflux of air. It will be understood that other arrangements of thehighnpressure and low-pressure compartments may also be suitable. Forinstance, the highpressure and low-pressure compartments may be disposedside by side or one below the other as desired. Moreover, the drums 29and 30 may be oriented for rotation about axes extending codirectionallywith the axis of the cylindrical casing.

In FIGS. 7-9 of the drawing, I show a modified arrangement of a lineararray of drums for the fluid treatment of a web 160. The installationcomprises a cylindrical housing 161 whose inlet 162 is provided with apair of rollers 163 which feed the web 160 onto the first drum 164 of aplurality of drums. Hot air is fed into a first compartment 165,containing the drum 164, which is delimited by a pair of movablepartitions 166, 167, slidable in a channel 168, to separate compartment165 from steam-treatment compartments 169, 170. The hot air isintroduced via a conduit 171 and is drawn by a pair of high-capacityblowers, whose intakes may be seen at 172, 173, through the web carriedby the array of angularly spaced slats 274 forming the perforatedperiphery of drum 164. A stationary shield 175 blocks the slots of theunused portion of the drum periphery.

As indicated in FIG. 8, each ventilator or blower of drum 164 (one ofwhich is indicated at 176) is driven by a motor 177 via a transmission178 to expel the hot air through a vent 179.

The web 160 passes along the upper side of drum 164- and thence onto theupper sides of drums 180, 181 in succession. Drums 180 and 181 arelocated within compartments 169 and 170, respectively, and serve totreat the web 160 with steam. Drum 189 is provided with two relativelysmall blowers whose intakes 172, 173 draw steam, introduced via nozzles174, through the web and the perforations in the drum. The nozzles 174are adjustably mounted in slots 174' and may be shifted toward or awayfrom the web.

Drum 181 is separated from drum 180 by a pair of movable partitions 184,185 vertically slidable in a channel 186, and is provided with a singleblower with an intake port 187 which draws the steam, blown intocompartment 170 by the blowers of drum 180, through the web. From drum181, the web 160 passes between '8 a pair of rollers 188 through theexit opening 189 of the casing 161. Compartments 165, 169 and constitutean intake portion, an intermediate portion and an exit portion of thepressure chamber which can be quickly closed off by the slidingpartitions 166, 167 and 184, 185.

Drums 164, and 181 are provided with respective driving sprockets 190,191, 192 which are engaged by a chain 193 driven by a motor 194. Sincethe drums carry the web 160 along their upper surfaces, they are drivenin the same sense as is apparent from FIG. 7. Moreover, the drums 164,186 and 181 are of progressively decreasing diameter while theirsprockets 190, 191 and 192 are of the same diameter so that the drumproximal to the inlet operates with a higher peripheral speed than thesucceeding drums. The peripheral speed of the drums is reduced instepwise fashion between the inlet and the outlet although they are alldriven at the same angular velocity.

In FIG. 9 I show the drums 164, 186 and 181 to be provided withapertures or perforations of successively decreasing cross-sectionalarea. Thus, each slot 274 between slats 195 of drum 164 has a greatercross-sectional area than does the longitudinal row of openings 196 inthe periphery of drum 180. The cross-sectional area of the openings ofthe latter row is, in turn, greater than the corresponding row ofopenings 197 in drum 181. Consequently, the throughput of treating fluiddrawn into the drums 164, 180 and 181 is reduced progressively from drumto drum. If desired, shields 175, 198 and 199 of the drums may bedispensed with and the web 160 returned along the undersicles of thedrums, as indicated by dot-dash lines, to the inlet opening.

The invention as described and illustrated is believed to admit of manymodifications within the ability of persons skilled in the art, suchmodifications being deemed included within the spirit and scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for treating a web of flexible material with at leastone gaseous fluid, comprising a housing forming a substantially closedchamber with an inlet and an outlet; first web-conveying means in saidchamber having at least one generally cylindrical closed apertured firsttransport surface rotatable about its axis for receiving said web ofsaid material introduced through said inlet and displacing it along atransport path while moving at a relatively high rate of speed andrapidly effecting treating of said web; fluid-displacement suction meansfor drawing said fluid through the apertures in said surface and throughsaid web; second web conveying means in said chamber for receiving saidweb from said first transport surface and displacing it to said outletalong said path, said second web-conveying means including a secondtransport surface carrying said web and displaceable at a relatively lowrated speed; and further fluid-displacement means for passing a fluidthrough said web on said second transport surface provided with internalshield means selectively blocking the perforations along a selectedregion thereof, and with periodically operable means connected to saidshield means for intermittently operating same whereby said drumalternately engages and releases said web to form folds therein.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said shield means comprisesa plurality of swingable shutter elements coupled with said periodicallyoperable means.

3. An apparatus for heat-treating a permeable material, comprising:

a housing forming a substantially closed chamber with inlet and outletmeans for a web of flexible permeable material to be treated;

at least one transport drum in said chamber provided with an aperturedperipheral wall and disposed to receive said web from said inlet meanson part of said peripheral wall for advancing said web toward saidoutlet means;

conveyor means disposed beyond said drum in said chamber for receivingsaid web from said drum and delivering it to said outlet means;

drive means for concurrently operating said drum and said conveyor meanswith a peripheral drum speed exceeding the surface speed of saidconveyor means, the difierence in said speeds causing said web toaccumulate in pleated shape on a surface of said conveyor means;

and circulation means for drawing a hot gaseous treatment fluid intosaid drum through a portion of said web in contact with said part of itsperipheral wall and for concurrently subjecting the pleated web materialon said surface of said conveyor means to a flow of hot gaseoustreatment fluid.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said conveyor meansincludes a further drum.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said conveyor meansfurther comprises an endless band forming a cylindrically curved andupwardly concave arcuate supporting surface for said web, said furtherdrum spaced 1y overlying said supporting surface in coaxial relationshiptherewith for accommodating the pleated portion of said web between saidsupporting surface and a confronting peripheral portion of said furtherdrum, said band being in unison with said further drum by said drivemeans.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said further drum is ofsmaller diameter than said transport drum, said drums being connected tosaid drive means for rotation at identical angular velocities 7. Anapparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said chamber is divided into afirst compartment for said transport drum and a second compartment forsaid conveyor means, said compartment being separated by substantiallyfluid tight partition means forming a passage slot for said web, saidcirculation means including means for admitting hot air into said firstcompartment and steam into said second compartment.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said conveyor meanscomprises an endless band disposed directly below said transport drum.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 246,547 8/ 1881Patterson 685.4

318,888 5/1885 Farmer 68184 354,798 12/1886 Lorimer 8-149.3 1,108,2338/1914 Rau 68184 X 1,867,210 7/ 1932 Cohoe. 2,453,796 11/ 1948 Jellenik685 2,494,731 1/ 1950 Vincent et al, 685 2,628,884 2/ 1953 Jacoby 8149.33,011,266 12/1961 Fleissner 685.5 X 3,098,371 7/1963 Fleissner 685,4

FOREIGN PATENTS 213,709 3/ 1958 Australia. 152,221 4/ 1932 Switzerland.

IRVING BUNEVICH, Primary Examiner. MORRIS O. WQLK, WALTER A. SCHEEL,Examiners.

3. AN APPARATUS FOR HEAT-TREATING A PERMEABLE MATERIAL, COMPRISING: AHOUSING FORMING A SUBSTANTIALLY CLOSED CHAMBER WITH INLET AND OUTLETMEANS FOR A WEB OF FLEXIBLE PERMEABLE MATERIAL TO BE TREATED; AT LEASTONE TRANSPORT DRUM IN SAID CHAMBER PROVIDED WITH AN APERTURE PERIPHERALWALL AND DISPOSED TO RECEIVE SAID WEB FROM SAID INLET MEANS ON PART OFSAID PERIPHER WALL FOR ADVANCING SAID WEB TOWARD SAID OUTLET MEANS;CONVEYOR MEANS DISPOSED BEYOND SAID DRUM IN SAID CHAMBER FOR RECEIVINGSAID WEB FROM SAID DRUM AND DELIVERING IT TO SAID OUTLET MEANS;